IRS Auction Draws Fans of Willie Nelson

Some of Willie Nelson’s belongings sold at an Internal Revenue Service auction Wednesday looked like junk. But to Nelson’s fans, they were as good as gold.

“Everybody wants a piece of Willie,” said Sonny Contreras after buying two posters. “Everybody feels the same way about Willie. They all love him, and they all want a piece of what he is and what he means to the community.”

Contreras was one of about 200 bidders at the first of three IRS auctions to pay off about $16.7 million in taxes and penalties Nelson owes.

Many who gathered in the cold for the sale at Nelson’s Pedernales Country Club said they were neighbors drawn by curiosity and sympathy for Nelson, whose property in several states was seized in November.

IRS spokeswoman Valerie Thornton said officials wouldn’t say how much money was raised at Wednesday’s sale.

Calls to Nelson’s agent in Connecticut for comment from the singer were not returned Wednesday. Nelson said last week that he was negotiating to have some tapes seized by the IRS be released on an album called “The IRS Tapes,” with proceeds going to pay the tax debt.